Travel Insurance for Mexico - Information and recommended travel insurance for Mexico

Travel insurance

Mexican medical treatment is generally inexpensive for common diseases and minor treatment, but if you suffer some serious medical problem, you may want to find a private hospital or fly out for treatment. Travel insurance can typically cover the costs. Some US health-insurance policies stay in effect (at least for a limited time) if you travel abroad, but it’s worth checking exactly what you’ll be covered for in Mexico. For people whose medical insurance or national health systems don’t extend to Mexico – which includes most non-Americans – a travel policy is advisable. US travelers can find links to information on medical evacuation and travel insurance companies on the Mexico page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs website (www.travel.state.gov).

You may prefer a policy that pays doctors or hospitals directly, rather than requiring you to pay on the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later, keep all documentation. Some policies ask you to call collect to a center in your home country, where an assessment of your problem is made. Check that the policy covers ambulances or an emergency flight home. Some policies offer different medical-expense options; the higher ones are chiefly for countries such as the USA, which have extremely high medical costs. There is a wide variety of policies available, so check the small print.